Originally Posted by DeepSouth:
I like O'Hearn. But, he's 0 - 15 against LHP. He's batting .215 against RHP. Since Pratto is the 1st baseman of the future, I wouldn't let O'Hearn bat against LHP. Get his stats up so he can be dealt when Pratto is ready.
Pratto, Melendez, and Matias are all hitting around .170 in A ball an striking out 1-2 times a game. It's hard to call any of them the future at any position. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Pratto, Melendez, and Matias are all hitting around .170 in A ball an striking out 1-2 times a game. It's hard to call any of them the future at any position.
Nick Pratto has a .488 ops so far in 78 abs. Zero home runs. 3 XBH.
Better hope for a nice close like he had to end last year. [Reply]
The start at Wilmington for those guys is disappointing, but try to avoid reading a lot into Wilmington statistics. The Carolina league is an extremely pitcher-favoring league and Wilmington is one of the most extreme environments.
Eric Hosmer went .206/.280/.299 in his first taste of it. Moustakas was .250/.297/.421.
Wil Myers is really the only Royals position player who has put up great numbers there in his first go at it.
Khalil Lee’s initially not impressive 270/.402/.406 last year takes on a different light in comparison... [Reply]
Royals’ attendance is down 13 percent compared to this point last year, but even during a 9-19 start, local television ratings are up 20 percent: https://t.co/2yafji0MS7
When Dozier is healthy, I'd release Duda, send O'Hearn to Omaha, and add Nicky Lopez to the 40 / 25 man roster. Move Merrifield to RF, Nicky to 2nd, Soler to DH, and Dozier to 1st. Owings would only play to pinch run or if someone is hurt. My lineup would be
Merrifield RF
Mondesi SS
Gordon LF
Dozier 1st
Lopez 2nd
Gutierrez 3rd
Soler DH
Maldonaldo C
Hamilton CF [Reply]
The strikeout rates for the important guys at Wilmington are concerning. Key for those players’ development is becoming better at controlling the strike zone and cutting down Ks.
The overall offensive performances don’t concern me as much. That’s an extreme pitchers park in an extreme pitchers league.
Which makes what Isabel is doing there all the more impressive.
Even elite hitting prospects - Yordan Alvarez is one example if you want a non-Royals example - run into challenges in the Carolina League. Not all... but many.
Re: Singer, he has good overall numbers and is right at a K/IP. No real warning signs there. KC also has traditionally asked pitchers to deemphasize their best secondary pitch at A+ because of the jump in competition and the way the park favors pitchers. Not sure if they’re doing that with this crew or not yet. [Reply]